December 18

Traditional Antiphon
O Adonai, and leader of the house of Israel, who appearedst to Moses in the fire of the flaming bush, and gavest him the law on Sinai; come and redeem us by thy outstretched arm.
 
Liturgy of the Hours
O sacred Lord of ancient Israel, who showed yourself to Moses in the burning bush, who gave him the holy law on Sinai mountain: come, stretch out your mighty hand to set us free.
 
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
O come, O come, thou Lord of Might,
Who to thy tribes, on Sinai’s height,
In ancient times didst give the law
In cloud and majesty and awe.
 
Virtue: Charity – “‘Charity is the theological virtue by which we love God above all things for his own sake’ [because he is worthy of such love], ‘and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God’ (CCC 1822).”[i]
 
This is known as agape love. What is agape love? Agape love means to lay down one’s own life for a friend. A total sacrifice. It is in charity that God reveals Himself to man. He appears to Moses, He gives His Law and finally he redeems us on the Cross with “outstretched arm”.
 
Search: Love and Charity
 
Sacraments: Holy Orders – O Adonai is the leader of the house of Israel. Who is the leader of the house of God, the Church, but the priest? How many times does the priest’s “mighty hand set us free” when we are given absolution in Confession, when the bread and wine are consecrated, when we are given countless blessings”? The posture of the priest (who is in the person of Christ) at Mass is that of “outstretched arms”.
 
Search: The Priesthood [Part II] 
Search: The Priesthood [Part I] 
Search: The Priesthood: A Gift of Self 
 
Reflection:
O Sovereign Lord! O Adonaï! come and redeem us, not by thy power, but by thy humility. Heretofore, thou didst show thyself to Moses thy servant in the midst of a mysterious flame; thou didst give thy law to thy people amidst thunder and lightning; now, on the contrary, thou comest not to terrify, but to save us. Thy chaste Mother having heard the Emperor's edict, which obliges her and Joseph her Spouse to repair to Bethlehem, she prepares everything needed for thy divine Birth. She prepares for thee, O Sun of Justice! the humble swathing-bands, wherewith to cover thy nakedness, and protect thee, the Creator of the world, from the cold of that mid-night hour of thy Nativity! Thus it is that thou willest to deliver us from the slavery of our pride, and show man that thy divine arm is never stronger than when he thinks it powerless and still. Everything is prepared, then, dear Jesus! thy swathing-bands are ready for thy infant limbs! Come to Bethlehem, and redeem us from the hands of our enemies.

[i] Ibid; page 194